Jose Adolfo Macias, better known by his alias “Fito,” and long considered Ecuador’s most dangerous criminal, has been captured after a months-long manhunt that gripped the nation and exposed the full reach of cartel power inside the country’s institutions.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa confirmed the arrest Wednesday, calling it a “key step” in restoring public order and dismantling the sprawling criminal networks that have plagued the country in recent years.

Who Is Fito?

Fito is the longtime leader of Los Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most powerful and violent drug gangs. Originally formed as a prison gang in the late 1990s, Los Choneros evolved into a dominant force in Ecuador’s underworld, building close ties with international cartels — including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels — and playing a major role in drug trafficking routes between South America and the United States and Europe.

Macias had been serving a 34-year sentence for homicide, drug trafficking, and organized crime, locked away in La Regional prison in Guayaquil, a city that has become a flashpoint in Ecuador’s escalating security crisis.

The Escape That Shook Ecuador

In January 2024, just days after President Noboa took office, Fito vanished from his prison cell. The escape, believed to have been facilitated by corrupt guards and inside help, triggered chaos across the country. Explosions, targeted assassinations, and violent prison riots erupted in multiple provinces. Armed gangs even stormed a TV station during a live broadcast — a chilling display of how emboldened criminal networks had become.

In response, Noboa took the unprecedented step of declaring an “internal armed conflict” and labeling Los Choneros and 21 other gangs as terrorist organizations, giving security forces expanded powers to confront them with military force.

The prison system, long known to be under the influence of drug lords like Fito, was placed under military control. Noboa vowed to regain control of the country and pledged sweeping reforms to root out corruption and fortify Ecuador’s crumbling justice system.

International Attention and U.S. Involvement

Fito’s escape and the subsequent violence didn’t go unnoticed abroad. In February 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Macias and Los Choneros under its drug kingpin statute, citing their role in large-scale narcotics trafficking and transnational violence.

Now that Fito is back in custody, Ecuador is pushing for his extradition to the United States, President Noboa said Wednesday. The request is pending approval from U.S. officials.

A Symbolic Victory — But the War Isn’t Over

While Fito’s capture is a high-profile win for Noboa’s administration, experts warn that it’s unlikely to bring an immediate end to the violence or dismantle the networks that made his escape possible.

Los Choneros and other criminal groups have become deeply entrenched, not only in drug trafficking but in extortion, illegal mining, and political intimidation. Violence in Ecuador has skyrocketed in recent years, with homicide rates now among the highest in Latin America.

Still, the arrest sends a powerful message at home and abroad — that the government is willing to confront organized crime head-on.

For many Ecuadorians, however, the memory of Fito walking free from prison — and the bloodshed that followed — is still raw. His return to custody is a start. Whether it marks a turning point remains to be seen.

Source: CNN – Drug kingpin ‘Fito,’ Ecuador’s most wanted man, has been captured, says Ecuador’s president

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CALICO ROCK, ARK. — A massive manhunt in the rugged mountains of northern Arkansas ended Friday when law enforcement captured Grant Hardin — a former small-town police chief turned convicted killer — just over a mile from the prison he had escaped nearly two weeks earlier.

Known for his dark past and nicknamed the “Devil in the Ozarks,” Hardin, 60, had been on the run since May 25 after walking out of Calico Rock prison by impersonating a correctional officer. His escape triggered a high-alert search involving drones, helicopters, bloodhounds, horseback units, and even an elite U.S. Border Patrol tactical team.

Hardin tried to flee again when officers approached him Friday afternoon, but exhaustion caught up with him — he barely made it a few steps before being tackled to the ground. Covered in mud and shirtless, he was arrested about 1.5 miles northwest of the prison, in remote and rocky terrain. Officials confirmed his identity through fingerprinting.

“He didn’t have much energy left,” said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system. “After a week and a half in those conditions, he was worn out.”

A Notorious Past

Hardin was no ordinary fugitive. Before his 2017 conviction, he had served briefly as police chief in Gateway, a town of 450 people near the Arkansas-Missouri border. But he also had a history of disturbing crimes.

He was serving 30 years for the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a Gateway water department employee who was shot in the head and left in a car. He also received a 50-year sentence for a 1997 cold-case rape of a schoolteacher in Rogers, which was solved through DNA evidence.

Hardin’s violent past, compounded by his brief stint in law enforcement, became the subject of a chilling documentary titled “Devil in the Ozarks.”

A Flawed Escape and a Frustrating Search

According to investigators, Hardin pulled off his escape by dressing and acting like a prison officer, fooling the staff into opening a secure gate without checking his identity. Champion called it a “lapse” that is now under investigation.

Authorities initially tracked him with bloodhounds, but heavy rain washed away his scent just a quarter mile in.

“That was one of the most frustrating moments,” said Champion. “We had him — and then we lost him.”

The U.S. Border Patrol’s elite tactical team joined the search this week, using their expertise in navigating rough terrain, dense forests, and cave systems to help locate the fugitive.

Relief for a Community on Edge

For Cheryl Tillman, the sister of Hardin’s murder victim and current mayor of Gateway, news of the arrest was a moment of immense relief.

“We don’t have to walk around constantly looking over our shoulders anymore,” she said. “Our family is incredibly grateful to all the officers who brought him in.”

Tillman was at a flea market in Ozark, Missouri, with family when she got the call that Hardin had been captured.

Troubled Career in Law Enforcement

Despite his criminal record, Hardin once held positions in several law enforcement agencies across northwest Arkansas. His law enforcement career began more than 35 years ago, but it was plagued by issues from the start.

Fired by Fayetteville Police early in his career, Hardin somehow kept getting hired — with short-lived stints in Huntsville and Eureka Springs. According to former Eureka Springs Police Chief Earl Hyatt, Hardin was forced to resign after several misconduct incidents, including excessive use of force.

“He did not need to be a police officer at all,” Hyatt said in a previous interview.

Even during his brief time as Gateway’s police chief in 2016, Tillman recalled him “chasing cars for no reason” — a red flag that was dismissed until it was too late.

What’s Next?

Now back in custody, Hardin faces tighter security, medical evaluations, and intense questioning. Authorities are investigating the security failures that allowed him to walk free — and reviewing how someone with his background ever wore a badge in the first place.

As for the small Arkansas communities left shaken by his escape and crimes, one thing is clear: they can finally begin to breathe easier again.

Source: AP News – Ex-police chief and convicted killer who escaped from an Arkansas prison has been captured

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NEW ORLEANS — A staff member from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has been arrested in connection with a shocking jailbreak at the city’s main detention center, the Orleans Justice Center, according to Louisiana’s Attorney General’s Office.

The escape, which took place in the early hours of Friday, involved 10 inmates—many charged with violent crimes such as murder—who broke out through a hole behind a toilet in their cell. They exploited a moment when the only guard on duty left to get food. Authorities say the inmates quickly ditched their uniforms and blended into the public by changing into street clothes.

Sheriff Susan Hutson has been vocal in her belief that the breakout was facilitated from the inside. “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” she said during a recent press conference.

Following the incident, three sheriff’s office employees were suspended as part of the ongoing investigation. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Attorney General confirmed one employee had been arrested, although the individual’s name and specific charges have not been released. Importantly, the guard who left the inmates unattended was not the person taken into custody.

According to the sheriff’s office, one of the steel bars protecting the plumbing system appeared to have been deliberately cut using a tool—an alarming sign of premeditated sabotage.

Since the escape, four inmates have been recaptured. Six others remain on the run, prompting a citywide manhunt.

Sheriff Hutson has pointed to long-standing problems at the jail, including malfunctioning locks and chronic understaffing. However, her critics—among them local and state officials—argue that ultimate responsibility falls on her leadership and oversight.

The New Orleans City Council is set to address the incident in a meeting with the sheriff’s office and law enforcement agencies later today.

Source: AP News – A sheriff’s staffer has been arrested related to the New Orleans jail break

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NEW ORLEANS – In a daring overnight breakout, 10 men escaped from a New Orleans jail Friday by slipping through a hole behind a toilet in their cell and scaling a wall — all while the lone guard assigned to their pod stepped away to get food, authorities revealed.

Seven of the escapees remain on the run, including suspects charged with murder. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson suggested the escape might have been aided by inside help, adding to the concerns over the jail’s deteriorating security.

How They Got Out

Surveillance video released by officials shows the inmates sprinting out of the facility. Some wore the usual orange jumpsuits, others white, as they climbed a fence using blankets to avoid barbed wire injuries before scattering across a nearby interstate and into a local neighborhood.

A photo obtained by The Associated Press reveals the escape hole — a gap behind a toilet in the cell wall with graffiti above it saying, “To Easy LoL”, with an arrow pointing to the opening.

Long Delay Before Discovery

Remarkably, the escape went unnoticed for over seven hours. A routine morning headcount at 8:30 a.m. finally alerted authorities to the empty cells.

The lone guard was not at the pod during the breakout; instead, a civilian technician who normally observes the area had stepped away for food, officials said.

Captures and Ongoing Manhunt

• Kendall Myles, 20, was caught shortly after the escape in the French Quarter. He has a history of juvenile detention breaks.
• By Friday evening, two more escapees, Robert Moody, 21, and Dkenan Dennis, were also captured.
• Seven fugitives remain at large as the search continues with support from local, state, and federal agencies. Louisiana State Police confirmed they are actively searching and transported captured inmates to a secure state facility outside New Orleans.

Jail’s Failing Infrastructure and Possible Inside Help

Sheriff Hutson blamed “defective locks” for enabling the breakout and said she had repeatedly warned officials about the jail’s crumbling infrastructure — even pushing for funding to fix it as recently as this week.

She also hinted at inside assistance: “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” she said.

Investigators found at least one steel bar near the plumbing cut with a tool, further suggesting deliberate tampering.

Who Are the Escapees?

The escapees are mostly in their 20s, with ages ranging from 19 to 42. Some are charged with serious crimes:

• Derrick Groves was convicted last year for multiple charges related to the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings.
• Corey Boyd faces a second-degree murder charge and had pleaded not guilty.

Technology and Efforts Aiding the Search

Officials used facial recognition technology through Project NOLA’s extensive camera network to track the escapees. Two were spotted walking in the French Quarter shortly after the escape, though they tried to avoid detection by keeping their heads down.

Strong Criticism from Officials

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams blasted the jail’s handling of the incident, calling it a “complete failure” and criticizing the delay in notifying authorities and the public.

State Attorney General Liz Murrill called the escape “beyond unacceptable” and condemned the slow public alert, saying she alerted neighboring states to be on the lookout.

New Orleans Police and Federal Agencies Respond

The New Orleans Police Department has launched a “full court effort” to find the fugitives, working alongside the FBI and U.S. Marshals. They are also protecting potential witnesses and have relocated at least one family out of harm’s way.

Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick warned anyone aiding the fugitives would face charges.

A Jail with a Troubled Past

The Orleans Justice Center has struggled with security issues for years, even under federal oversight meant to improve conditions. It replaced the old Orleans Parish Prison in 2015 after decades of escapes and in-custody deaths.

The facility is currently about 60% staffed, and officials say they can’t afford basic maintenance contracts to repair broken locks and doors.

Sheriff Hutson described the situation as staff being “stretched thin,” with many high-risk inmates requiring more secure housing than the jail can provide. Transfers to other facilities are underway.

Suspensions and Investigations

Three jail employees have been suspended while the investigation continues. It remains unclear if any of the suspended staff are suspected of assisting the escape or if the guard who left for food is among them.

Source: AP News – 10 escape from New Orleans jail through hole in cell wall while lone guard left to get food

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A US citizen, who had been detained in Syria for months after entering the country on foot, was discovered by local residents near Damascus following a dramatic release. The man, later identified as Travis Timmerman, spoke to CBS News about his ordeal, detailing his escape as rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Timmerman, who was arrested seven months ago, had been reported missing after his last known location in Budapest in May. He was found lying on a sofa, speaking with local reporters, shortly after rebels captured Damascus.

Rebels, including leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to shut down Assad’s notorious prisons and hold accountable those responsible for the torture and deaths of detainees. “We will pursue them in Syria and ask countries to hand over those who fled to achieve justice,” said al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

Timmerman described his dramatic release on Monday, the day after rebels toppled Assad’s regime. He was woken by the sound of his prison door being smashed open by two men armed with hammers. “I thought the guards were still there, so I was ready for more fighting, but once we got out, there was no resistance,” Timmerman said. He joined a large group of fellow prisoners attempting to reach Jordan, although he admitted to “moments of fear” during his escape.

Despite the uncertainty, Timmerman was well-received by local residents, who offered food and assistance as he made his way through the area. “They were coming to me, mostly,” he said, expressing gratitude for their help.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US is actively working to bring Timmerman home, although he withheld further details about the process.

Since Assad’s fall, thousands of prisoners have been released from Syrian jails. Videos have shown men, women, and even children emerging from overcrowded, windowless cells, often disoriented and unaware of the world outside. Timmerman, however, seemed to be in relatively good condition. He shared that he had access to a mobile phone during his detention and had even spoken to his family three weeks ago.

In a separate interview with NBC, Timmerman explained that he had crossed the mountains between Lebanon and Syria on a “pilgrimage” and had spent much of his time reading scripture.

The US has also asked Syria’s main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to help locate and free Austin Tice, a US journalist missing since 2012. President Joe Biden has stated that the US believes Tice is still alive, though his whereabouts remain unknown.

Syria’s prisons, notorious for brutal conditions, have seen widespread torture and death. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that nearly 60,000 people were tortured or killed in Assad’s jails. As the regime’s collapse continues to unfold, desperate families are searching for loved ones, with help from the White Helmets.

Raed Saleh, director of the White Helmets, said, “We’re looking for secret prisons in several areas of Damascus” and expressed concern over the many families still searching for the lost. Some of the most notorious sites, like Saydnaya prison, have been described as “human slaughterhouses,” where thousands endured unimaginable horrors.

Despite their efforts, the White Helmets have struggled to locate all survivors. “We’ve helped recover thousands of detainees,” Saleh said, but acknowledged that many are likely either dead or have been moved elsewhere. Teams continue to search with sniffer dogs and lock-breaking tools in a desperate bid to uncover more survivors.

The search for justice and accountability in the aftermath of the Assad regime’s fall remains a top priority for many in Syria.

Source

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